School District Policies

Policy IGAEB

Code: IGAEB

Adopted: 11/18/96

Revised/Readopted: 2/17/03

Orig. Code(s): IGAEB

Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention, Health Education**

Students have a right to attend school in an environment conducive to learning. Since alcohol, drug and tobacco use is illegal, harmful and interferes with both effective learning and the healthy development of students and adolescents, the school has a fundamental legal and ethical obligation to prevent drug, alcohol and tobacco use and to maintain drug-free educational environments.

After consulting with parents, teachers, school administrators, local community agencies and persons from the health or alcohol and drug service community who are knowledgeable of the latest research information, the Board will adopt a written plan for a drug, alcohol and tobacco prevention and intervention program.

Drug Prevention Program

The Board will annually review, update and adopt an age-appropriate alcohol/drug prevention curriculum to be taught annually to all students K-12 after consulting with the alcohol-drug committee.

Instruction will be integrated in the health education courses. Students not enrolled in health education shall receive prevention instruction through other designated courses.

Instruction shall minimally meet the requirements set forth in the Oregon Administrative Rules as it pertains to Prevention Education Programs in Alcohol and Drugs.

The district will include information regarding the district’s intervention and referral procedures, including medical emergencies in the student/parent/staff handbooks.

Intervention is defined as the identification and referral of students whose behavior is interfering with their potential success socially, emotionally, physiologically, and/or legally as a result of prohibited alcohol, drug and tobacco use.

Any member of the staff who has reason to suspect a student is in possession of, or under the influence of alcoholic beverages, controlled dangerous substances or other intoxicants on school property, on a school bus or while participating in any school-sponsored activity, whether on school property or at sites off school property, will escort the student to the office or designated area and will report the information to the building principal or his/her designated representative.

The building principal or designee will:

1. Call the police if deemed appropriate;

2. Call the parents for a meeting;

3. Discuss the incident with student, parents if available and police if contacted;

4. Impose school rule violation penalty if deemed appropriate using due process procedures;

5. Tell parents about resources which offer treatment or assistance for young people suffering from alcohol-, drug- or tobacco-related problems.

In the case of a drug-related medical emergency such as an overdose or an allergic reaction, immediate notification of the community emergency care unit is required. Trained staff members will assist the student in any way possible. Parents shall be contacted immediately. A staff member shall be designated to accompany the student to the hospital or emergency medical facility.

In general, drug emergencies will be handled like a serious accident or illness. Therefore, the procedures to be taken shall be included in the district’s comprehensive first aid/emergency plan.

Students possessing, using and/or selling alcohol and other drugs on school property, in school vehicles, at school-sponsored activities on or off school grounds shall be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion. Students may also be referred to law enforcement officials.

Each year the administration will meet with the sheriff’s office staff to discuss:

1. Who the school should call for suspected violations of the law or other needs;

2. How school representatives should handle evidence of a suspected offense (i.e.: school staff should not taste a substance to ascertain whether or not it is a drug). What about fingerprints? Paraphernalia?

3. What questioning procedures may take place on school property;

4. Other needs of the district and the law enforcement to avoid conflicts or confusion before a substance-related incident occurs.

The business manager will actively seek funds from outside sources either independently or through coordinated efforts with other districts, community agencies or the education service district for drug-free schools grants.

Funds needed to support the activities related to alcohol, drugs and tobacco prevention will be identified by source, particularly the 1986 Drug-Free Schools Act, moneys or other grants received from federal, state or local sources.

Each year a planned staff development program that addresses the needs and responsibilities for the entire staff will be developed by the superintendent. The input of staff, parents and the community is encouraged to ensure a staff development program that best meets the needs of district students.

Staff development will include current basic alcohol and drug information and an explanation of district and school alcohol and drug policies, procedures and program.

Staff will be involved in planning and implementing the in-service activities used to accomplish the alcohol/drug staff development. Such activities will address the various levels of background among staff members and the sufficient lengths of time needed to accomplish the activities.

The district will develop a public information plan for students, staff and parents.